I moved my patients from today to yesterday, so I was home today. My friend Heidi and her newborn baby Isabelle came by for a visit and for me to treat Izzy. She's been a little-miss-fussy-pants. Heidi's ready to pull out her hair and I feel so badly for her. I really want to help. All I knew to do was watch the baby, try to get her to sleep, and let Heidi take a short power nap; that is until the crying woke her up. Poor new mamma. Soothing, swaddling, sucking...trying everything. Any advice anyone?
I'm working every week...pushing myself to do a little more each week. Getting more stamina, I think. The artificial lights are the biggest problem. I try to see babies right now in rooms that have windows so I don't have to turn any lights on. I'm not needing as many naps (or not taking as many) and the nausea doesn't seem to be as bad either.
I was able to go to a meeting at Gilda's Club Tuesday night. I enjoyed being able to talk with others going through similar journeys.
Keep praying! For all symptoms to be completely gone and for complete healing. Thanks. Love to all,
Laura
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Working Computer
FINALLY!! I have a new computer! They finally sent me a new one after all the problems I'd had with mine. It'll be nice to have a connection to the world again on days that I'm home. I like to instant message if anyone else does that, it's a good way to communicate.
I finally got over the strep, sinus stuff and reaction to the antibiotic and am feeling as good as I have in awhile. I worked yesterday and today and feel good. Trying to ease my way back in. Treated a friend and her baby at the house today too. I think I'm getting a little more stamina back which is really encouraging. I'm still pretty tired but my naps are fewer and not as long.
I had a great weekend with my friends from medical school. We just hung out, cooked, played games and caught up on each others' lives. It was a blast. I will attempt to attach a video of one of the kids from this weekend who is a fierce dancer. He went on for over a half an hour. Oh to have the energy again!
I still have quite a bit of nausea, but it's manageable. I'd like it to be gone completely, of course. Keep praying. My next MRI ins in April and we want that to show even more healing than the one in January. And of course for there to be no trace of tumor! Thanks for your continued prayers. Life is good. God is good. Love you all,
Laura
I finally got over the strep, sinus stuff and reaction to the antibiotic and am feeling as good as I have in awhile. I worked yesterday and today and feel good. Trying to ease my way back in. Treated a friend and her baby at the house today too. I think I'm getting a little more stamina back which is really encouraging. I'm still pretty tired but my naps are fewer and not as long.
I had a great weekend with my friends from medical school. We just hung out, cooked, played games and caught up on each others' lives. It was a blast. I will attempt to attach a video of one of the kids from this weekend who is a fierce dancer. He went on for over a half an hour. Oh to have the energy again!
I still have quite a bit of nausea, but it's manageable. I'd like it to be gone completely, of course. Keep praying. My next MRI ins in April and we want that to show even more healing than the one in January. And of course for there to be no trace of tumor! Thanks for your continued prayers. Life is good. God is good. Love you all,
Laura
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Six Months
On Wednesday, we celebrated 6 months since Laura's surgery. I can't tell you how strange it is to say that it has been 6 months...for it seems like a few weeks ago being in AR, but at the same time so long ago. What Laura has been through, from the surgery to recovery, radiation to the elation of not having to have her experience chemotherapy, the impact of losing hair, eye brows, etc., and now the numerous side effects of the medications. All said, we are in a great place. God has been faithful, abundant, and full of blessings.
6 months...still having a tough time with that, it just doesn't seem possible, seeming both to have gone so quickly and yet the surgery being so long ago. Laura has definitely grown through this process, though weak at times, always faithful to God. In so many ways, I have too, but struggled many times in many ways. There were times where I had a drink rather than saying a prayer, bottled up what I should have let out, and didn't take my friend Tim's advice to "take care of yourself throughout." Regardless, here we are, with Laura's med school/residency friends coming in to visit this weekend, ecstatic to see her for the first time since the surgery. A good place.
Life is becoming normal again. Some eardrops here, side effects of medicine there...all in all, you wouldn't know if didn't know by looking at Laura. I thank God for my family, as I have grown to appreciate how I was raised so much in that past 6 months. I was taught to focus on moving forward, focus on the positive, and don't let the negatives weigh on your mind too much. Dad, Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, Sarah, Kelly, Doug...thank you...you were always there with what I needed to hear.
On that note, the sun shined today, there is a ton of snow on the ground, so much only the box of our mailbox is showing....I am going to spoil the crap out of some kids this weekend...and probably have a Mount Gay and soda...or two...and a cigar. Sounds like a good weekend to me.
Have a good weekend everone,
Chad
6 months...still having a tough time with that, it just doesn't seem possible, seeming both to have gone so quickly and yet the surgery being so long ago. Laura has definitely grown through this process, though weak at times, always faithful to God. In so many ways, I have too, but struggled many times in many ways. There were times where I had a drink rather than saying a prayer, bottled up what I should have let out, and didn't take my friend Tim's advice to "take care of yourself throughout." Regardless, here we are, with Laura's med school/residency friends coming in to visit this weekend, ecstatic to see her for the first time since the surgery. A good place.
Life is becoming normal again. Some eardrops here, side effects of medicine there...all in all, you wouldn't know if didn't know by looking at Laura. I thank God for my family, as I have grown to appreciate how I was raised so much in that past 6 months. I was taught to focus on moving forward, focus on the positive, and don't let the negatives weigh on your mind too much. Dad, Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, Sarah, Kelly, Doug...thank you...you were always there with what I needed to hear.
On that note, the sun shined today, there is a ton of snow on the ground, so much only the box of our mailbox is showing....I am going to spoil the crap out of some kids this weekend...and probably have a Mount Gay and soda...or two...and a cigar. Sounds like a good weekend to me.
Have a good weekend everone,
Chad
Friday, February 1, 2008
Computers and a Sore Throat
I have now sent my computer in to HP for the third time...the last time it was sent back to me it still wasn't working. Argh. I wait for Chad to come home so I can use his laptop and feel linked to the outside world. I still don't LOVE talking on the phone. It's definitely better, but I prefer email.
I got a bad sore throat this week. We think it's just viral, but my throat culture hasn't come back yet. I'm feeling better...the worst is definitely over; I couldn't sleep Monday or Tuesday night because everytime I swallowed it woke me up. Ouch!
Tomorrow Chad and I are going to a new member meeting at Gilda's Club of Grand Rapids. I'm excited to get to know some people going through the same thing that we are. They have a meeting and we'll figure out how to get involved (i.e. brain tumor support group, etc.) then they have a new member brunch. I think it'll be fun. Not sure if Chad's looking forward to it or not, but he's willing to go and I appreciate that. He may not go, though, because he has a b-ball game at the same time. We'll see.
Otherwise we are surviving the snow. I think it's fnally going to stop tonight (after 7 inches). Chad's out snowblowing the driveway. When he gets in we will eat and watch a movie or two. We just went and rented several.
Please continue to pray for me even though we got great news at the 3-months follow-up MRI. I have an MRI every 3-months to check for recurrence and each will be nerveracking. Dizziness is gone, nausea is better, no headaches, still tired. Can't complain. Love to you all,
Laura
I got a bad sore throat this week. We think it's just viral, but my throat culture hasn't come back yet. I'm feeling better...the worst is definitely over; I couldn't sleep Monday or Tuesday night because everytime I swallowed it woke me up. Ouch!
Tomorrow Chad and I are going to a new member meeting at Gilda's Club of Grand Rapids. I'm excited to get to know some people going through the same thing that we are. They have a meeting and we'll figure out how to get involved (i.e. brain tumor support group, etc.) then they have a new member brunch. I think it'll be fun. Not sure if Chad's looking forward to it or not, but he's willing to go and I appreciate that. He may not go, though, because he has a b-ball game at the same time. We'll see.
Otherwise we are surviving the snow. I think it's fnally going to stop tonight (after 7 inches). Chad's out snowblowing the driveway. When he gets in we will eat and watch a movie or two. We just went and rented several.
Please continue to pray for me even though we got great news at the 3-months follow-up MRI. I have an MRI every 3-months to check for recurrence and each will be nerveracking. Dizziness is gone, nausea is better, no headaches, still tired. Can't complain. Love to you all,
Laura
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